The Ravens’ offseason has been a sea of change. Quarterback Lamar Jackson obtained a brand new contract, and Baltimore obtained a brand new offensive coordinator and a cadre of latest large receivers.
But there’s additionally a well-known face amongst all that restructuring.
Tee Martin, who spent the previous two seasons as Baltimore’s large receivers coach, was named quarterbacks coach in February, taking on for James Urban.
For Martin, it’s a return to his pure place — he quarterbacked Tennessee to a nationwide championship in 1998. But with it additionally comes a sure diploma of scrutiny as he tries to assist Jackson return to the shape that earned the quarterback the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2019.
“You’re coaching a quarterback who’s different than a lot of … other quarterbacks,” Martin stated final week throughout voluntary organized workforce actions, which conclude this week in Owings Mills earlier than necessary minicamp begins subsequent Tuesday. “[It’s] very similar to how I played, but way better.”
Indeed.
While Urban, who had labored with Jackson since his rookie 12 months in 2018 and is now a senior soccer analyst with the workforce, was the place coach, the quarterback hasn’t come near matching the output he had throughout that dazzling 2019 season. After throwing for 3,127 yards, an NFL-best 36 touchdowns and dashing for 1,206 yards and 7 extra scores in 2019, Jackson’s numbers have since dropped off.
Some of that could possibly be defined by accidents — Jackson has missed 11 video games over the previous two seasonsSome of it could possibly be attributed to the shortage of playmakers across the quarterback, particularly at large receiver. And a few of it could possibly be excused away due to former coordinator Greg Roman’s proclivity for a run-heavy offense.
But that was then.
Now, Jackson, who signed a five-year extension value a reported $260 million final month that makes him the highest-paid quarterback within the NFL per 12 months, has a coordinator in Todd Monken who has preached a extra up-tempo tempo with extra passing and fewer working. He additionally has receivers Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Zay Flowers and veteran Nelson Agholor (together with the return of a wholesome Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely).
Then there’s Martin.
He got here to Baltimore after eight years at Southern California and two extra at his alma mater. Along the way in which, he helped develop a number of future NFL receivers. As large receivers coach the final two seasons for the Ravens, although, the group struggled, ending final within the league in receiving yards this previous season. But Martin was hardly the one accountable. Last offseason, the Ravens traded their most efficient receiver, Marquise Brown, whereas Bateman, a 2021 first-round choose, has performed simply 18 video games his first two seasons as he’s battled accidents.
Martin, 44, was additionally a candidate for the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive coordinator job this offseason, if there was any query about his capability.
“Tee is a quarterback guy,” Harbaugh stated in March. “He played the position, studies the position, and I can tell you this: When we interviewed him for it, he blew us out of the water with it.”
Now it’ll be as much as Martin to do the identical to Jackson.
Though it’s early within the offseason, Jackson has favored what he has seen out of Monken’s new offense and in flip Martin. Through the primary two weeks of the media viewing parts of voluntary organized workforce actions, there was a wholesome dose of run-pass choices, screens, routes out of the backfield and occasional deep throws.
There is an emphasis on being extra dynamic — and on giving Jackson extra management.
“Coach [Monken] is basically just giving us the keys to the offense,” Jackson stated final month. “You can change things when you want to. You see the defense, [and if] it’s not looking right to you, you see a guy blitzing, [or] you might want your receiver to do something different, Coach has given you the free will to do whatever you want to.”
Still, there’s an extended option to go and nonetheless rather a lot to be taught for Jackson. The duty of getting the quarterback the place he must be will fall on Martin.
Jackson has seemed inconsistent thus far, however it’s solely June.
“The first thing is the new system and the way we do things in the new system — the drop footwork, the play action footwork, where our eyes go, progressions, reads, the type of accuracy we have to have, anticipation, ball location, things of that nature,” Martin stated.
Even if Martin didn’t play the sport on the identical stage that Jackson has — he appeared in simply three video games throughout two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders — having somebody who performed the place helps.
“I think there’s a comfort level with that, and when I say something to him or suggest something, it goes a little bit further,” Martin stated. “The comfort level is there, and the trust is there.”
All that’s left are the outcomes.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com